No abstract available.
Spinal Cord Diseases*

We induced apoptosis in normal rats by intramuscular injection of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and immunohistochemically evaluated the thymus for the TdT-mediated dUTP biotin nick end labelling on the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th, 15th and 21st days following the bolus intramuscular injection. The injections of 5-FU induced a greater extent of apoptosis in the thymus. In the thymus, a mild increase in apoptosis was observed 24 hours after injection. The greatest number of apoptotic cells were seen at 72 hours. The size of the thymus decreased and the cortex thinned with hypocellularity. The injection of 5-FU caused massive cell loss in the thymus. Most apoptotic cells were scattered in the cortex and lower levels of apoptosis were also observed in the medulla. After 72 hours, the level of apoptosis returned to the control level. Considering the above results, we think that 5-FU induced toxicity may be related to 5-FU induced apoptosis in normal tissue, especially the thymus.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Biotin ; Fluorouracil* ; Injections, Intramuscular* ; Rats* ; Thymus Gland*

Two cases with uretero-pelvic stricture of which the one was 15 year-old girl and the other was 10 month-old child, underwent pyelo-ureteroplasty by the technique of Foley YV plasty, was reported.
Adolescent ; Child ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Female ; Humans ; Infant

No abstract available.
Phenytoin* ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome*

Chronic hepatitis associated with the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome has been very rarely reported worldwide. Recently, we experienced a case of chronic hepatitis with piecemeal necrosis as the clinical feature of the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. The patient was a 49-year-old woman who complained of a mild fever, nausea, vomiting, and pain in the right upper quadrant. The eosinophil count of peripheral blood increased up to 14,020/microliter (64% of WBC). Liver biopsy specimen showed severe porto-periportal inflammation with marked eosinophilic infiltration and ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes. Corticosteroid therapy significantly normalized the eosinophil count of peripheral blood.
Biopsy ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Fever ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Hepatocytes ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome* ; Inflammation ; Liver ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; Necrosis ; Vomiting

The object of this study is to evaluate the possibility of chemical-induced liver disorder among workers exposed to various chemicals and to classify the the liver function abnormalities by causes and to analyse the risk factors for each liver disorders. A cross-sectional study including questionnaire survey, physical examination, laboratory tests and ultrasonography of liver was conducted on 1,126 workers, 459 workers in a coal chemical plant(company A) and 667 workers in an insulation material manufacturing factory(company B). An industrial hygienist reviewed the chemicals used in both companies and evaluated the work environments to classify the workers by chemical exposure semiquantitatively. The results are as follows; 1. Of 459 workers in company A, 83 workers(18.1 %) are classified as nonexposed, 163(35.5%) as short-term exposure group, 155(33.8 %) as intermediately exposed group and 58(12.6 %) as long-term exposed group based on the mean daily exposure to hepatotoxic chemicals evaluated by an industrial hygienist. Of 667 workers in company B, 484(72.6 %) workers were classified as nonexposed and 183(35.5 %) as exposed. 2. Workers with SGOT level higher than 40 IU/l were 46(10.0 %) in company A and 77(11.5 %) in company B, and those with SGPT level higher than 35 IU/l were 118(25.7 %) in company A and 198(29.7 %) in company B. The differences were not significant between companies and between exposure groups(p>0.05). Workers with ?-GT level higher than 62 IU/l were 29(6.3 %) in company A and 77(11.5 %) in company B(p<0.01). The difference between exposure groups was not significant(p>0.05) within companies. Workers with liver function abnormalities(defined as SGOT higher than 40 IU/l or SGPT higher than 35 IU/l, Ministry of Labor, 1989) were 338(30.0 %) among 1,126 workers. Of 338 workers with liver function abnormalities 139(12.3 %) had fatty liver by ultrasonography, 79(7.0 %) had alcoholic liver(defined as workers with liver function abnormalities with weekly alcohol consumption greater than 280 g for more than 5 years), 54(4.8 %) had hepatitis B, 12(1.1 %) had hepatitis C and the other 114(33.7 %) was not otherwise classified. Prevalences of alcoholic liver and fatty liver were significantly lower in company A(prevalence ratio 0.24 for alcoholic liver, p<0.001; prevalence ratio 0.76 for fatty liver, p<0.05) but prevalences of liver disorders between exposure groups within companies were not significant(p>0.05). 3. Summary prevalence ratios(SPR) of liver function abnormalities, fatty liver and other liver disorders, adjusted by age and company were not significantly higher in exposed group in any chemicals(p>0.05) but in some chemicals, SPRs were significantly lower. 4. On simple analysis of risk factors for liver function abnormalities, prevalence odds ratio(POR) of those with age between 30 and 39 was 1.54(p<0.01) and those with age over 40 was 1.51(p<0.01). POR of those with histories of liver disorders and general anesthesia was 1.77(p<0.001) and 4.02 for those with overweight and 6.23 for those with obesity, defined by body mass index(p<0.001). 5. On logistic regression analysis, risk factors of liver function abnormality were fatty liver(POR 2.92 for grade 1, 12.15 for grade 2), presence of hepatitis B surface antigen(POR 3.62) and obesity(POR 5.38 for overweight and 16.52 for obesity). Presence of hepatitis B surface antigen(POR 0.18) was the only preventive factor of fatty liver. Company(POR 0.30) and obesity(POR 2.49 for overweight, 4.52 for obesity) were related to the alcoholic liver. Obesity(POR 2.94 for overweight) was the only significant risk factor of hepatitis B and there was no significant risk factor for liver function abnormality not otherwise classified. It is concluded that the evidence of liver disorder related with chemical exposure is not evident in these factories. It is also postulated that fatty liver and alcoholic liver is most common causes of liver function abnormalities among workers and effort for weight control and improvement of life style should be done.
Alanine Transaminase ; Alcohol Drinking ; Alcoholics ; Anesthesia, General ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Coal ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Fatty Liver ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis C ; Humans ; Life Style ; Liver Diseases* ; Liver* ; Logistic Models ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors* ; Ultrasonography

Mesothelioma originates in several sites including the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium, and tunica vaginalis. The pleura is the most common site of origin, but cases originating in the per- itoneum is relatively rare. Mesothelial lesions of the peritoneum may pose significant diagnostic problems. Yet, the accurate identification of this lesion is important because of its distinctive behavior and treatment modality. We herein report a case of malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum arising in the capsule of the liver. The accuracy of our diagnosis has been confirmed by the immunohistochemical study and electron microscopic examination.
Diagnosis ; Liver* ; Mesothelioma* ; Pericardium ; Peritoneum* ; Pleura

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether or not splenectomy alters the acute toxic effects on rat tissue induced by barium sulfate. METHODS: A total of 80 Sprague-Dawely male rats were divided into three groups; the control group and the barium sulfate treated groups with and without splenectomy. The pathologic changes in the solid organs were examined at the time after intraperitoneal treatment with barium sulfate. The changes of white blood cell count were also examined. RESULTS: The barium induced toxicity was most prominent in the spleen. The changes in the other organs were proportional to the experimental duration, and the changes in the barium only treatment group were more severe than the observed changes in the splenectomy and barium treated group. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the degree of barium toxicity of barium only treated group was more severe than that of the splenectomy group.
Animals ; Barium Sulfate* ; Barium* ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Rats* ; Spleen ; Splenectomy*

Here we report a case of Strongyloides stercoralis infection of the gastric and pancolonic mucosa in a 79-year-old female with a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. Endoscopic biopsies were performed in gastric antrum, cecum, distal ascending colon, and hepatic flexure of the colon. On microscopic examination, there were many adult worms, larvae and eggs in the gastric and colonic mucosa. Worms, larvae, and eggs were located in the crypts and within the lumen of the crypts. The body wall of the adult worm was composed of cuticle and a weak muscle layer. A routine stool examination failed to detect larvae or ova. Based on the histopathologic examination, these parasites were confirmed as S. stercoralis.
Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Cecum ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Eggs ; Female ; Humans ; Larva ; Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance ; Mucous Membrane ; Muscles ; Ovum ; Paraproteinemias ; Parasites ; Pyloric Antrum ; Stomach ; Strongyloides stercoralis ; Strongyloidiasis

Here we report a case of Strongyloides stercoralis infection of the gastric and pancolonic mucosa in a 79-year-old female with a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. Endoscopic biopsies were performed in gastric antrum, cecum, distal ascending colon, and hepatic flexure of the colon. On microscopic examination, there were many adult worms, larvae and eggs in the gastric and colonic mucosa. Worms, larvae, and eggs were located in the crypts and within the lumen of the crypts. The body wall of the adult worm was composed of cuticle and a weak muscle layer. A routine stool examination failed to detect larvae or ova. Based on the histopathologic examination, these parasites were confirmed as S. stercoralis.
Adult ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Cecum ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Eggs ; Female ; Humans ; Larva ; Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance ; Mucous Membrane ; Muscles ; Ovum ; Paraproteinemias ; Parasites ; Pyloric Antrum ; Stomach ; Strongyloides stercoralis ; Strongyloidiasis